The medieval crossbow as surgical instrument: an illustrated case history
BURNS, S.J., ROBERT IGNATIUS (University of San Francisco)
BULLETIN OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF MEDICINE, Vol. 48., No.8, September (1972)
Abstract
From prehistoric into modern times,physicians have had to arrow wounds. The wars which ceaselessly punctuated man’s progress ensured a stream of victims,to which hunting accidents added their share. Not long ago arrow wounds bedeviled American army surgeons during Indian wars,’and fighting in Vietnam has turned up a few cases. Treatment has varied according to the surprising variety of projectiles involved,the medieval crossbow offering a particular problem.Ranked as a kind of lesser artillery and manned often by elite corps,the ancient crossbow became a dominant weapon on 13th century batlefields, as technical advances improved its range and loading.
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